PJIAE Workers Demanding that PJIAE sit around the table to Negotiate CLA.
Wednesday, 01 October 2014

AIRPORT

Workers working in the security, screening, administration and maintenance departments of the Princess Juliana International Airport met with their union representative Wednesday night at the WIFOL building to discuss the strategies they will use to get the management of PJIAE around the table to discuss and sign off on the Collective Labor Agreement (CLA) for their members. The workers are represented by ABVO St. Maarten.

President of the ABVO St. Maarten Sherlon Cathalina told SMN News Monday evening shortly before the meeting started that management of PJIAE has refused to sit around the table to negotiate the CLA which is due to expire in December 2014. Cathalina says that management kept sending letters telling them that they do not represent the majority of the workers therefore management will not sit around the table with them. "ABVO does have the majority because they represent over 160 workers.

Furthermore, the law states that the union has to have 50% plus one which they already surpass. Besides that workers have a right to join any union and for their benefit and the benefit of the company they work for."

Cathalina said the emergency meeting they called Wednesday night is to discuss all the grievances workers at PJIAE are facing and most of all to decide their plan of action if management of PJIAE refuses to cooperate.

Cathalina said already his members are hearing that management of PJIAE are refusing to sit with the union because they think the workers benefits is too costly for the government owned company. He said that workers have certain benefits like vacation allowances in the CLA which PJIAE has to respect.